Lawrence,
You are using H 4895. What I have found with that powder and why I prefer IMR's version, is the lack of consistency.
Since we are talking 22.250, I bring in to the conversation experience with a Ruger 77 Mk2 VT I have so chambered.
With a lot of powders that rifle is a very consistent small grouper at a variety of ranges., with all sorts of bullet weights and manufacture. Switch to H4895, it varies from so-so accuracy, to throwing them all over the place, like you'd think it was shot by some blind kid with a sling shot. This isn't the only rifle and caliber I have experienced this in.
But one load that rifle loves with H 4895 is a charge of 32.5 grains. It will consistently give me one hole groups, regardless of bullet weights at 100 yds, and at 200 the group isn't that much bigger.. regardless of the bullet weight or brand. So when I feed it that powder, that is the charge weight I use with it... 32.5 grains of H 4895. At 32 grains of 33 grains of the same powder, the groups open up quite a bit. A change to different primers still doesn't seem to have any impact of that fact.
With 30 to 60 grain bullets, in that rifle I usually use Reloader 7. It gives great performance and accuracy across the board.
So do a lot of other powders but RL 7 is the most frugal, as it takes less of a charge than ALL slower burning powders.
BUT 32.5 grains of H 4895 ALL work real well in ANY 22.250 I own... and there are 5 of them in the gun safe. Regardless of bullet weight... Go Figure ?
I'll definitely give your 32.5gr theory a try. Thanks!!
